Typical calf number??

[herofan]

Here's another question from a greenhorn, me.

I put a bull with my 15 month old heifers on November 30, 2012, and removed him around July 1st. The removal date was just because that's when the guy we borrowed him from could get him.

As of today, 9/3/13, I have three calves. They were born on September 10, 13, and 18. Is this a typical number for this passage of time? I assumed September would see many more. Am I just over anxious?

 

[Taurus]

Well you just leave him with your heifers for 8 months...how many heifers left to be calve yet? But you are right I would expect more calves on the ground by now....how old is the bull and did he has a BSE?

 

[Anonymous]

How many heifers?

 

[HughesFamilyCattle]

Looks like the rest of them didn't take the first heat cycle. I AI late November and just had all of mine the first week of September except one that took by the clean up bull that I put in 28 days after AI. Just checked her and she looks like she's going to explode with calf. Yours like that one of mine didnt take until late Dec or later. (I'm in Central Ky)

 

[herofan]

How many heifers?

Ok, how did I forget that the most important part? I have 16 heifers.

 

[dun]

I would expect at least half of them to have calved by now.Unless (there is always and unless) the heifers weren;t in good condition or the bull wasn;t doing a very good job. Some breeds are slower reaching puberty then others too, that's another unless

 

[herofan]

Just a little more info. I have one other heifer with good udder development; it's as big or bigger than the one's who have calves. Several others teats have developed and visible, but not a lot of sack yet. Then, there are two or three whose teats aren't much beyond the bump stage, even though they are large and have big bellies. I don't know if any of that means a lot, but just my observations.

 

[Chris H]

Just a little more info. I have one other heifer with good udder development; it's as big or bigger than the one's who have calves. Several others teats have developed and visible, but not a lot of sack yet. Then, there are two or three whose teats aren't much beyond the bump stage, even though they are large and have big bellies. I don't know if any of that means a lot, but just my observations.

Were these heifers you purchased, and at what age? What breed are they? What size were they when you put the bull with them? What body condition score were they? Same questions for the bull, and was your bull tested? Vaccinations?

 

[herofan]

Just a little more info. I have one other heifer with good udder development; it's as big or bigger than the one's who have calves. Several others teats have developed and visible, but not a lot of sack yet. Then, there are two or three whose teats aren't much beyond the bump stage, even though they are large and have big bellies. I don't know if any of that means a lot, but just my observations.

Were these heifers you purchased, and at what age? What breed are they? What size were they when you put the bull with them? What body condition score were they? Same questions for the bull, and was your bull tested? Vaccinations?

I purchased them at 4-6 months of age and turned the bull with them when they were 15+ months old.

Breed-wise, I have a Red Angus, a Gelbvieh, three black baldies/brockle, and the rest are mostly black.

Bull was a registered Black Gelbvieh we borrowed from a neighbor; he was tested.

I don't know about body condition score. They seemed really healthy, and other farmers who saw them said they looked like a good bunch of heifers, but as far as specifics on score, i don't know.

 

[Chris H]

I wish I knew the answer but I'm out of obvious causes.

 

[wbvs58]

Last year one of my bulls jumped 2 fences and got in with 26 of the neighbours 13 month old heifers, he was in with them for about 12 hrs., 4 of them calved within a couple of days as a result of his escapade so that would give you a bit of an idea if the bull was working well, but then mine was an Angus bull.

Ken

 

[herofan]

Last year one of my bulls jumped 2 fences and got in with 26 of the neighbours 13 month old heifers, he was in with them for about 12 hrs., 4 of them calved within a couple of days as a result of his escapade so that would give you a bit of an idea if the bull was working well, but then mine was an Angus bull.

Ken

So, what causes a bull to not work well? Are some just not as vigorous as others? He obviously has some live load since we do have three thus far?

 

[3waycross]

Last year one of my bulls jumped 2 fences and got in with 26 of the neighbours 13 month old heifers, he was in with them for about 12 hrs., 4 of them calved within a couple of days as a result of his escapade so that would give you a bit of an idea if the bull was working well, but then mine was an Angus bull.

Ken

I fail to see the significance of that other than most other bulls would have stayed home! Bet the neighbor appreciated that!

 

[double v]

26 to 30 cycling, did the heifers stand that first month? breeding cows sometimes the best laid plans don't plan out.

 

[cmf1]

Be interesting to see how many calve over the next 7-10 days.

 

[herofan]

26 to 30 cycling, did the heifers stand that first month? breeding cows sometimes the best laid plans don't plan out.

My brother witnessed one being mounted; otherwise, we didn't witness any activity. Of course, we weren't watching them 24/7, but what time we did, I noticed a little sniffing around, but nothing else. Before we put the bull with them on November 30, they were riding each other like crazy, which may mean nothing, but I assumed the bull would have an action packed December.

 

[dun]

26 to 30 cycling, did the heifers stand that first month? breeding cows sometimes the best laid plans don't plan out.

My brother witnessed one being mounted; otherwise, we didn't witness any activity. Of course, we weren't watching them 24/7, but what time we did, I noticed a little sniffing around, but nothing else. Before we put the bull with them on November 30, they were riding each other like crazy, which may mean nothing, but I assumed the bull would have an action packed December.

If he was working the night shift, unless you preg checked the heifers you wouldn;t know they were bred (or when) until the calve.

 

[skeeter swatter]

but then mine was an Angus bull.

Ken[/quote]

I fail to see the significance of that other than most other bulls would have stayed home! Bet the neighbor appreciated that![/quote]


:lol2: :lol2:

 

[wbvs58]

Last year one of my bulls jumped 2 fences and got in with 26 of the neighbours 13 month old heifers, he was in with them for about 12 hrs., 4 of them calved within a couple of days as a result of his escapade so that would give you a bit of an idea if the bull was working well, but then mine was an Angus bull.

Ken

I fail to see the significance of that other than most other bulls would have stayed home! Bet the neighbor appreciated that!

The neighbour was cool about it 3way, very happy with the calves. I am wrestling with the bull at the moment trying to keep him away from my cows that I am inseminating haha, a lot of juggling around. But you gotta admit a good Angus bull gets the job done.
Herofan, a lot of heifers can be a bit timid breeders and don't stand well for a bull. An experienced bull that knows how to wine and dine the girls and whisper sweet things in their ears and then when he jumps on he wraps his front legs around them so they don't get away and gets the job done can make a big difference.
Most heifers in a group that don't settle are not infertile, they and the bull merely don't execute a successfull mating in the time frame allocated. Having the bull in for such a long period should give you a high percentage pregnant but may be spread out especially if the bull does not have all the skills.
Ken

 

[herofan]

Herofan, a lot of heifers can be a bit timid breeders and don't stand well for a bull. An experienced bull that knows how to wine and dine the girls and whisper sweet things in their ears and then when he jumps on he wraps his front legs around them so they don't get away and gets the job done can make a big difference.
Most heifers in a group that don't settle are not infertile, they and the bull merely don't execute a successfull mating in the time frame allocated. Having the bull in for such a long period should give you a high percentage pregnant but may be spread out especially if the bull does not have all the skills.
Ken

Being spread out is what I'm afraid of. I was in hopes they would all come within a shorter time frame.

It's funny how things work. I put a registered, healthy bull with 16 healthy heifers for 7 months or so, and they figure out a way to mess up my hopes. On the other hand, had I not wanted them bred for some reason, they would have all gotten out at 10 months of age, found an undernourished, skeletal, one-testical bull, and all gotten pregnant within 12 hours, guarantee it.